Boys lacrosse top-five countdown: No. 3 Gilman

The boys lacrosse season has started for the private schools, and the public schools will begin play on Friday. That means it’s time to start rolling out the projections for this season’s top teams.

In the coming days, Varsity Letters will count down the top-five teams. The area's preseason No. 1-ranked team will be posted Wednesday. The entire Top 15 poll, along with the top players to watch, will be available online Wednesday night and the entire preview package will be in Thursday's print edition.

Outlook: Positives are all over the field at Gilman, and they could add up to a special season for the Greyhounds.

The team’s attack is talented and balanced with Ruhl, Wittich and Andy Matthews. McBride brings tough two-way play in the middle to lead the midfield, and Brendan Barger and Chase Campbell bring athleticism and an edginess on defense to anchor things in back.

Everyone mentioned above is a senior, which adds another important intangible in that their urgency to win is cranked up on high.

The Greyhounds will be inexperienced in goal and on faceoffs, but have capable options. They may not be quite as deep as other foes in the MIAA, so being healthy when the playoffs roll around will be a big key.